Your say: Toowoomba cemetery vandalism sparks outcry among community after council reveals repair timeline

Just weeks after vandals caused more than $500,000 in damage to some of the oldest graves in Toowoomba, readers have had their say on the crime. Your say here:

Toowoomba residents have expressed their outrage at news that the damage caused to the Drayton Cemetery during a night of vandalism might take years to fix.

Three teenagers were arrested in relation to the August 10 incident, which left 143 graves and headstones either damaged or destroyed.

Two of the teens were processed under Youth Justice Act, while a third was let off with a warning.

The Toowoomba Regional Council estimates the act will cost upwards of $500,000 to fully repair, with mayor Geoff McDonald arguing it could be years before every site was fixed.

Here is what residents had to say, both on The Chronicle website and on social media:

Punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Kent

Make them fix them.

Western Rod

My Great grandfather’s grave with others from 1882 is there, will try to see list, will have to visit to see. Very disappointed with no punishment handed out not what I expect. These crimes must meet community expectations.

MichaelT36

Why do we not put these offenders to work in the cemetery, repairing the damage under supervision, until it is rectified? This would be natural justice and would satisfy community expectations.

Elizabeth R

This is a great example of what is wrong with society. These youths know exactly what is right and wrong. They chose to do the wrong thing. They get away unpunished and we (society) end up paying for it all (in more ways than just monetary!).

Reactions to council comments

KleintonLocals

War Graves department are responsible for maintenance of War Graves, so should be doing the heavy lifting for our war veterans whose memorials were damaged. Thank you TRC for cleaning up the despicable act of the teens, who were not dealt with as us the community expect. How can the court outcome be challenged out of respect and given the value of damage done. $1/2M and not even a slap on the wrist. Lest we Forget

Andrew

Why is it up to the families of the deceased to fix up graves? Isn’t the cemetery covered by insurance? If not, why not? And why aren’t Council responsible for the reparation?

Dianne Mawhood

How in earth did they manage you do that much damage?